I arrived in Clearwater Sat. AM. At first I explored downtown, checked
out the crafts fair / farmer's market that was set up in Cleveland
St. east of Ft. Harrison. It's one thing to read about Co$ buildings
like the Bank building, Ft. Harrison etc. in ARS but another to see
them in person. When I walked down Watterson I soon had a cameraman
filming me. I knew I was in the right town then! The cameraman offered
me some papers. Later I recognized them as the court order that the
clams were "serving" on the picketers. I refused and continued walking
past the imfamous "white lines", the Lisa Trust building and around
the corner to Ft. Harrison Ave. When I went past the Lisa Trust building
(other side) I looked through the door. What did I see? The cameraman
filming me through the other door! (The Lisa Mcpherson Trust building
has 2 glass doors on either end of a hallway)
I then walked around the Ft. Homicide and the under construction
Super Power building. The picket was underway across the street from
the Ft. Harrison in front of the Super Power building. The main sidewalk
was in a construction tunnel while the picketers were on a piece
of sidewalk between the tunnel and the street. I walked past the
picket, and when I got to the point where the sidewalk outside the
tunnel ended I was admonished by Jeff Jacobson (whom I didn't recognize)
to keep off the grass. This triggered memories of my last picket
several years ago when the clams were telling us to "keep moving"
"don't photograph me" "stay off the grass" etc. so I thought he was
a clam handling the picketers! I ignored him. Sorry, Jeff!
Later I went back and asked a picketer if they had any spare signs.
She pointed me to Jeff and when I asked him he was suspicious of
me from our earlier encounter. Once I agreed to the rules he let
me have a sign. He explained how the cops gave lots of rules (mostly
from the injunction on LMT members) and one rule was keep off the
grass. A small patch of grass near the big length of grass was "legal"
somehow.
The clams were non-confront (the injunction said they had to keep
10 [feet away] from picketers) except for cameramen (6 or so at a time sometimes)
and the "process server" serving copies of the injunction on anyone
who crossed to the other side of the street (which was legal if you
weren't picketing at the time). At one time someone walked up Ft.
Harrison shouting obscenities at the Scientologists. The cops (lots
of cops) arrested him for disorderly conduct. No other major events
I saw, but apparently there was another arrest earlier. Several TV
stations interviewed us. At least 3 TV stations covered the vigil / picket
that night. One caught the arrest I saw.
I was surprised at the turnout for the candlelight vigil that evening.
Over 50, I think. I'll try to count when I develop the pictures (if
they come out - I'll see if 1600 speed film with no flash by candlelight
comes out). The prayers and bagpipe were moving. Also Lisa's relatives
--- it's one thing to read of her death on ARS but it's another thing
when you see their grief in person. We took the wreath to the back
of the Ft. Harrison and we filed past the wreath one by one blowing
out our candles. After this the minister admonished some clam for
videotaping the whole thing and showing no respect. The clam didn't
do anything, just kept filming. They really do have all emotions
and courtesy audited out of them. Also almost as soon as the last
mourner left, the clams scurried off with the wreath. And as the
mourners walked toward Cleveland St. a "process server" was serving
the injunction on some of the mourners. No respect. Some were issued
subpoenas to give depositions at some lawsuit as well.
Sun. AM we picketed again. Nothing unusual. We broke for lunch, and
afterwards I went back to the Ft. Homicide, I picketed by myself
for about 45 minutes, then later joined the others who were picketing
at the Coachman / Bank buildings. Later I got a tour of the Lisa Trust
building by Jesse. They're great people.
All in all it was great to see many people in person who were just
names in ARS before now. I had a great time!
"Bazooka Joe"